The Challenge
Fulton Hogan has been the national partner of the Takahē Recovery Programme since 2016. Alongside the Department of Conservation (DOC), Ngāi Tahu and the New Zealand Nature Fund, we’re working to ensure that takahē are never again considered extinct.
At the heart of recovery efforts is DOC’s Burwood Takahē Centre, located near Te Anau in the deep south. Here, up to 100 takahē reside at 200-hectare facility, which is divided into enclosures where the birds are monitored and managed.
To maximise the health and productivity of Burwood’s population, as well as minimise the risk of over-browsing within the enclosures, DOC rangers apply a regular regime of supplementary feeding. The majority of the seventeen takahē Sanctuary Sites across the country also utilitse supplementary feeding in hoppers, to varying degrees.
The same design of hopper and stand has been used for over 30 years, and generally work well. Takahē quickly learn how to lift the ‘lid’ and feed from their parents or siblings. Recently, however, rangers have experienced issues with disease spreading within the takahē population, highly likely as a result of mice and/or starlings getting into the hoppers and leaving their droppings behind. The weak point seems to be gaps where the lid closes on the base, and the stand making access to the hopper and food relatively simple for mice.
An additional problem is that takahē are messy feeders, spilling a large quantity of their pellets on the ground. These are either wasted, or eaten off the ground, where faecal matter from numerous animals tends to be concentrated.
We need to find a solution that allows takahē to freely access their pellets, but as much as possible, eliminate access for non-target animals.
Current Hopper Design
The current hoppers are made of plastic. There is a lid screwed in with basic stainless-steel screws, loose enough for takahē to easily lift to access pellets. The hoppers have one hole in the bottom, holding a bolt and wing nut for the hopper to be easily attached and removed from hopper stands. The hoppers also have up to four holes on one side which holds a bolt and nut over summer that allows the lid to be permanently open in different positions to help juvenile takahē learn to eat from the hopper.
The hopper stands are made of painted metal, some older versions having a plastic scoop to mount hoppers to. The scoop that holds the hopper has a hole to mount the hopper onto using the bolt and wing nut. The hopper stands also have a handle welded on which makes it easy to move hopper locations.
There is currently no consistency in positioning of the bolt holes in the hoppers, which results in different angles of mounted hoppers. The higher the angle, the easier it is for food to fall out and cause disease issues. If the angle is too low, the lid of the hopper may not have enough space to open fully limiting the takahē’s access.
See below for dimensions of hoppers and hopper stands.
Challenge Purpose
Design a feed station that can be accessed by takahē but excludes (as much as possible) access for other birds and rodents.
The design may be constructed in multiple parts, with the base/stand able to be left in the enclosures. The ‘hopper’ section must be able to be removed for cleaning purposes back at base.
The design must meet all budget and technical specifications outlined below.
Specifications
Key specifications are outlined below. If you require additional information or have any questions relating to the challenge please email takaherecovery@doc.govt.nz before 1 September 2025.
Budget
Total cost must not exceed $200 per unit including materials and construction.
Dimensions
Consider portability/ease of cleaning in kitchen sink. Adjustable height range (200mm400mm) above ground level (takahē access but allows exclusion of non-targets such as ducks). Access lid aperture opening adjustable to allow for training.
Weight
The new design should be as lightweight as possible to ensure easy transport to remote areas (at least the hopper section).
Quality
Design needs to be weatherproof (including in rain and high winds) to ensure food remains dry.
Quantity
We would likely deploy ~ 50-75 feed stations across our sides. 1 station as a conceptual design would need to be built and trialled.
Materials
All design components should be readily available and easily sourced for construction and replacement.
Materials must be able to be easily cleaned, with no gaps/apertures for food residue to get stuck.
Safety
Design must ensure that takahē will not be harmed during its use.
Challenge Timeline
Challenge open: 1 August 2025
Deadline for submission of questions: 1 September 2025
Entries close: 8 September 2025
Judging period: 2-12 September 2025
Winner announced: 17 September 2025
Entry Information
- Open to all Fulton Hogan employees and students at NZ tertiary institutions.
- Submissions by individuals or teams welcome.
- All entries must meet budget and technical specifications outlined by this document.
- Be submitted in electronic form to takaherecovery@doc.govt.nz by by 11:59pm, 8 September 2025.
- Include entrant name(s), position(s) and a contact phone number.
- Include a solution design and brief methodology, including sources for materials.
- The winning designer or team will be offered the opportunity to accompany the Takahē Recovery Programme team on an upcoming takahē operation at a wild population site.
- Each applicant warrants that it is the legal and beneficial owner of the intellectual property in the innovation.
- The successful applicant grants to Fulton Hogan and DOC and their respective successors and assigns a non-exclusive royalty free licence to use the successful applicant’s intellectual property in the innovation in perpetuity.